Qatar on Monday closed its airspace and the U.S. and U.K. urged their citizens to shelter in place there after a missile attack by Iran on the U.S. forces at the country’s Al Udeid Air Base.
The escalating war in the Middle East has caused aviation chaos across the region.
Last night, Qatar closed its airspace, only to reopen it this morning. The shutdown began after Iranian missiles targeting Al-Udeid, the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East near the capital, Doha, were intercepted.
While the airspace is now open, the impact across the region’s air routes is significant and is likely to last for several days.
If you have a trip booked to the region in the near future, here’s our guide on what you need to know and do. As the situation is rapidly evolving, it’s important to check with your travel agent, airline, and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website for the latest advice right before you travel.
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What has the Foreign Office said?
The FCDO has issued several ‘no travel’ warnings for countries across the region, including Iran and Israel. Ignoring these warnings can not only put you in danger but also invalidate your travel insurance.
Last night, the Foreign Office advised British citizens in the Qatari capital to “shelter in place” following Iran’s strikes. That advice was later updated to: “Following interceptions of Iranian missiles fired towards Qatar, the FCDO has been in touch with the local authorities and international partners, and reviewed the security situation. British nationals do not need to shelter in place and should continue to follow advice from the local authorities.”
How many flights have been disrupted?
More than 20 flights scheduled to land in Doha yesterday were diverted due to the closure of airspace ahead of the Iranian missile assault, including Qatar Airways services from Heathrow and Gatwick, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Qantas diverted a non-stop Perth–Heathrow service to Singapore on Monday, while a flight to Paris returned to Perth “due to additional airspace closures and congestion through the Middle East.” The Australian carrier said flights from Sydney to London via Singapore and Perth–London would operate as planned today (Tuesday).
Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority reopened the country’s airspace, posting to X that things would return to “normal” after taking “necessary measures in coordination with relevant authorities,” according to a translation.
Qatar Airways has restarted flights, announcing that it plans to “restore operations as quickly as possible.” However, the airline added: “As operations resume, we anticipate significant delays to our flight schedule.”
Emirates confirmed that an unspecified number of flights to Dubai were rerouted on Monday. The airline added: “After a thorough and careful risk assessment, Emirates will continue to operate flights as scheduled, using flight paths well distanced from conflict areas. Some flights may incur delays due to longer reroutings or airspace congestion, but Emirates’ teams are working hard to keep to schedule and minimise any disruption or inconvenience to our customers.”
Etihad Airways cancelled five flights yesterday and four today, serving destinations in the Gulf region from Abu Dhabi. It has suspended all flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv until 15 July. The airline also announced several regional flight cancellations for Monday and Tuesday, including those connecting Abu Dhabi with Kuwait, Doha, Dammam, and Muscat.
A spokesperson for the airline said: “This remains a highly dynamic situation, and further changes or disruptions may occur at short notice. Etihad continues to monitor developments closely in coordination with the relevant authorities and is taking all necessary precautions.”
Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national carrier, has extended the cancellation of scheduled flights to Jordan until 27 June.
Singapore Airlines has cancelled some flights to and from Dubai from Sunday through Wednesday, citing “a security assessment of the geopolitical situation in the Middle East.”
British Airways has likewise suspended flights to and from Doha until Wednesday. “Safety is always our highest priority,” a British Airways spokesperson said, assuring that the company “will keep the situation under review.”
Air India has declared a complete halt to “all operations to the region as well as to and from the East Coast of North America and Europe,” with immediate effect until further notice. Still recovering from a devastating plane disaster earlier this month which claimed over 270 lives, the airline disclosed that flights headed for India from North America would now be rerouted or diverted from closed airspaces.
FlightAware’s air tracking data indicated a total of 243 global flight cancellations as of Tuesday, with Dubai International Airport witnessing the most disruptions — 26 flights cancelled to and from it as of 6:00 am GMT. Meanwhile, Air India had recorded the most cancellations among airlines, with a count of 25 around the same time.
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Additionally, Philippine Airlines has been forced to scrap several journeys to the Middle East, including flights to Doha, Dubai, and Riyadh scheduled for Tuesday, and another to Doha on Wednesday. Japan Airlines also experienced issues when a flight from Haneda Airport in Tokyo to Doha had to turn back on Monday, leading to the cancellation of scheduled services through to June 27.
What should you do if you have a holiday to the Middle East booked?
Contact your travel agent, holiday provider, or airline to check whether the trip is still going ahead. If it is and you no longer want to travel, check the small print in your booking to find out whether you can cancel and receive a refund.
Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, encouraged travellers to stay alert to official updates, such as those issued by the FCDO.
The continuation of the conflict and potential for further escalation could have serious, broader ramifications. Shahidi noted that prolonged conflict greatly hinders evacuation efforts from war-affected regions, with commercial flights often representing the only viable means of departure.
He also underscored the importance of governments ensuring the safety of their airspace, citing the tragic fate of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, which was brought down by Russian-backed forces over Ukraine in 2014, tragically claiming all 298 lives on board.
